Circular knitting machine



Dec. 25, 1945. HOLMES 2,391,625

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed'Oct. 3, 1944' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 25, 1945.. H. H. HOLMES CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.- 3, 1944 FIG? 2."

III/Ill?! LJ a A. \\\\\\x ////M w Q\\ \\\w \r E Patented Dec. 25, 1945' Henry Harold 1 Holmes,

Leicester, England, as-

signor to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Application October 3, 1944, Serial No. 556,955

In Great Britain 13 Claims.

This invention relates to circular knitting machines, and concerns more particularly, though not exclusively, machines of the characteristic type including co-axially superimposed needle cylinders and independently slidable double-ended needles operable by means of sliders for the purpose of producing plain, rib or purl stitches, or combinations thereof in any "desired sequence, in

knitted fabric or articles.

The invention is applicable primarly to machines adapted, as by rotary reciprocatory knitting, to produce pouches, such as heel and toe pouches, in the knitted fabric or articles, followed by a course, or courses, composed of or including stitches knitted by rib needles, as, for example, in the production of a rib top after a toe pouch in the manufacture of knitted half-hose, socks and like articles. Owing to the presence of the pouch tension is not applied uniformly-to the 'knitted fabric, all round, by the conventional take-up mechanism, with the result that loops are liable to build up on the needles when knitting is resumed, and tucking, or damage to the fabric or/and needles is likely to occur;

Various expedients have heretofore'been proposed or adopted for automatically applying tension to the work in conjunction with the convenv tional take-up mechanism, during or after the formation of a pouch, in order to compensate for the presence of the pouch and thus equalize the tension on the work. As will be understood,

such an expedient constitutes auxiliary fabric tensioning means which latter, for the sake of convenience, will hereinafter be referred to as pouch compensating mechanism);

The present invention concerns pouch compensating mechanisms of the form which include a member or device mounted on a rod or like supporting member suchwise as to be adapted to be' automatically brought into engagement. with a pouch, or an immediately following portion of the knitted fabric, and to move axially of the needle cylinder or'cylinders for the purpose of applying the desired auxiliary tension, and to be automatically returned to the normal or inopera-- tive position after completion of a pouch.

It is found in practice that if a press-off occurs while the tensioning member or device is in operation, and if knitting is resumed before the said member or device is returned to the normal or inoperative position: the resultant courses of fabric form an obstruction. An endeavour to force the tensioning member or device past these courses may result in damage to. if not breakage of,

October 11, 1943 So far as we are aware, no provision has been made for enabling the tensioning member or device to be returned immediately after a press-oil, and for holding it inthis position until it is further required to operate. Accordingly the object of the present invention is to enable this to be done.

A particular illustrative embodiment of the in vention as applied to pouch compensating mechanism in which a body with a fabric engaging formation is mounted on a vertical supporting rod so as to enable it to descend when operative to apply tension to the fabric will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of so much of the said pouch compensating mechanism as is necessary to illustrate the application thereto of the means provided by theinvention-in a knitting machine of the superimposed needle cylinder type, and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the bottom cylinder component of the machine, illustrating, by way of example, one particular form of fabric engaging body hereinafter to be described.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the example illustrated is applied toa knitting machine of the characteristic type including coaxially superimposed needle cylinders I and 2 furnished, as shown in Figure 2, with double-ended needles 3 operable by means of sliders, such as 4.

The pouch compensating mechanism incorporated in this machine comprises a body 5 which is provided with a fabric engaging claw 6' and so mounted on a vertical supporting rod 1 as to enable it to descend, when operative, to apply tension to the fabric 1 (Figure 2). This rod extends axially right through the needle cylinders i and 2 and above the top plate 8 of the machine. For the purpose of the present invention the said rod is connected by a two-armed lever 9 and a link In with another two-armed lever I I arranged for operation by a timing'or controlling mech-- anism in the form of a control drum l2. The lever 9 is 'fulcrumed at l3 in a fixed bracket l4 supported upon a post l5, and is forked or bifurcat'e'd at its end remote from the link Hi to provide spaced portions 9:: which are slotted at 9b for engagement with lateralprojections IS on an operating collar II. This collar is'located on the supporting rod I, between a weight l8 and a check collar IS. A locking screw 20 isprovided for securing the weight upon the rod I. The check collar 1'9 is fixed upon the supporting rod and in this way any movement of the lever 9 is transmitted to the rod. The lever II is pivoted at 2| and formed with a nose-like formation Ila adapted for engagement with a cam 22 on the control drum I2. The intermediate connections just described between the rod 1 and the control drum are arranged for operation manually so as to enable the said rod and consequently the body of the body. Pivotally connected to the'lever II is a catch in the form of a'stepped or shouldered bar 23, the latter being for engagement with a stop 24 on the bracket I4. The stepped or shouldered bar 23 is connected to the lever II at a point 25 between the pivot 2| and the connection between this lever and the link III. The said bar is also controlled by a tension spring 26, or is otherwise suitably loaded, so that its stepped or shouldered part 23a is urged towards the stop 24, but normally this part is located above the stop (as indicated in full lines in Figure 1). In the =arrangementso far described there is therefore an upper lever to which the rod 1 is connected, a lower lever for operation by the timing mechanism, and, extending vertically between these two levers, the stepped or shouldered bar 23 normally disengaged from the stop 24 which may also serve as'a guide for the bar. Thus the arrangement is such that when the upper lever 9 is operated manually to lift the rod 1 to the position indicated in dot-and-dash lines, assuming that the fabric tensioning body has descended, the stepped or shouldered bar 23 is pulled down so that its stepped or shouldered part 23a is brought below the stop 24 whereupon the bar is turned by its spring 26 to locate the stepped or shouldered part under the stop at 240 so that reverse movement of the rod is prevented. The tensioning body 5 therefore is retained in the raised position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 2. Accordingly, if, as previously al-. luded to herein, a press-off has occurred, the body 5 can be raised, by hand, before fresh courses are run on to the needles to initiate knitting again, and damag to or breakage of needles will be avoided. For the purpose. of releasing the body 5 for further operation, means under the control of machine timing mechanism are provided for 5 thereon to be lifted at any stage of thedescent my co-pending United States application Serial No. 543,351, filed July 3, 1944. Thus, the body 5 comprises a weight with the claw 6 arranged to engage the work solely on the side where a pouch is formed, this weight being mounted to rock or tilt on the rod I whereby it is releasably supported in engagement with a cam or abutment 30 suchwise that the body 5 is maintained" the work, and, thereafter, is gravity actuated to apply the desired auxiliary tension to the work. The weight is fulcrumed on the rod at 3| and longitudinally slotted at 5a to enable it to tilt or rock laterally. A stop bar 32 is provided on the weight to. limit outward tilting or rocking movement.

The invention is, however, not to be regarded as limited to application to a pouch compensating mechanism of this particular form as there have been proposed, or are in use, other mechanisms including fabric engaging bodies adapted to operate in particular ways, to which the invention could be equally well applied.

What I claim then is:

1. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at least one needle cylinder, a device for applying auxiliary tension to .the work in order to compensate for the presence of a pouch, a movable member for supporting said tensioning device, means for automatically operating and controlling the,said supporting member whereby the tensioning device can be automatically brought into engagement with the work,'moved axially of the needle cylinder for the purpose of applying the desired auxiliary tension and automatially returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, said auxiliary fabric tensioning means, moreover, being arranged to automatically tripping the bar 23. In the particular arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 such means include a toggle device consisting of a slotted link 21 connected to the bar 23 and one arm of a two-armed lever 28, which latter may be any lever serving to operate some other part of the machine, for example, a heel and toe yarn take-up mechanism under suitably timed control. Instead of providing a two-armed lever such as 28 this may be replaced by another link. In any event, to the joint of the toggle is connected a link 29 in turn connected to or with a lever (not device, means for automatically operating and v enable the tensioning device to be restored to its normal inoperative position at any stage of its operative movement, and means adapted to re- .tain the said device in this position and to be operated to release the latter when again required for use.

2. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at least one needle cylinder, a device for applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to compensate for the presence of a pouch, a movable. member for supporting said tensioning controlling the said supporting member whereby the tensioning device can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, moved axially of the needle cylinder for the purpose of applying the desired auxiliary tension and automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, said auxiliary fabric tensioning means, moreover, being arranged for operation also manually to enable the tensioning device to be restored to its normal inoperative position at any stage of its operative movement, an automatically operable retaining catch for holding the tensioning device in the said inoperative position, and machine-controlled means for subsequently tripping the said catch at an appropriate time to release the tensioning device for further operation.

3. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combinawhen operative, to apply tion, at least one needle cylinder. a body with a fabric engaging formation for applying auxiliary tension to thework in order to compensate for the presence of a pouch, a rod which supports said fabric-tensioning body and is movable axially of the needle cylinder, a lever to which the supporting rod is connected, a second lever, control means for automatically operating said sec-. ond lever, a member whereby the said two levers are connected, the arrangement being such that the tensioning body-can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, descend, when operative, to apply the desired auxiliary tension to the work and be automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, and the connections being so arranged for operation manually that the rod and the body thereon can be lifted at any stage of the descent of the latter, a loaded catch connected to the said second lever, and an adjacent fixed stop with which the catch is engageable to prevent reverse movement of the rod and body when lifted as aforesaid.

4. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at least one needle cylinder, a body with a fabric engaging formation for applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to compensate for the presence of a pouch, a rod which supports said fabric-tensioning body and is movable axially of the needle cylinder, a lever to which the supporting rod is connected, a second lever, control means'for automatically operating said second lever, a member whereby the said two levers are connected, the arrangement being such-that the tensioning body can be automatically brought into engagement with the work,'descend, when operative, to apply the desired auxiliary tension to the work and be automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, and the connections being so arranged for operation manually that the rod and part of the said bar is engageable to prevent reverse ovement of the rod and body when lifted as afo esaid.

6. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at least one needle cylinder, a body with a fabric engaging formation for applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to compensate for .the presence of a pouch, a rod which supports said fabric-tensioning body and is movable axially of the needle cylinder, alever to which the supporting rod is connected, a second lever, control means for automatically operating said second lever, a member whereby the said two levers are connected, the arrangement being such that the tensioning body can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, descend, when operative, to apply the desired auxiliary tension to the work and be automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a. pouch, and the connections being soarranged for operation manually that the rod and the body thereon can be lifted at any stage of the descent of the latter, a catch in theform of a spring controlled shouldered bar which is connected to the said second lever, an adjacent fixed stop beneath which the shouldered part of the said bar is engagea'ble to prevent reverse movement of the rod .and body when lifted as aforesaid, and machinecontrolled means for automatically tripping the bar and thereby releasing the fabric tensioning body for further operation.

- '7. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at least one needle cylinder, a body with 'a fabric engaging formation for applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to compensate for the presence of apouch, a rod which supports said fabric-tensioning body and is movable axially of 40 the needle cylinder, .a lever to which thesupporting rod is connected, a second lever, control means for automatically operating said second lever, a

the body thereon can be lifted at any stage of the descent of the latter, a loaded catch connected to the said second lever, an adjacent fixed stop with which the catch is engageable to prevent reverse movement of the rod and body when lifted as aforesaid, and machine-controlled means for automatically tripping the catch and thereby releasing the fabric tensioning body for further operation,

5. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at least one needle cylinder, a body with av fabric engaging formation for applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to compensate for the presence of a pouch, .a rod which supports said fabric-tensioning body and is movable axially of the needle cylinder, a lever to which the supporting rod is connected, a second lever, control meansfor automatically operating said second lever, a member whereby the said two levers are connected, the arrangement being such that the tensioning body can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, descend, the desired auxiliary tension to the work and be automaticallyreturned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, and the connections being so arranged for operation manually that the rod and the body thereon can be lifted at any stage of the descent of the latter, a catch in the form of a spring controlled shouldered bar which is connected to the said second lever, and an ad- Jacent fixed stop beneath which the shouldered link, the joint of' the toggle being adapted for connection with control means whereby the said member whereby the said two levers are connected, the arrangement being such that the tensioning body can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, descend, when operative, to apply the desired auxiliary tension to the work and be automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, and the connections being so arranged for operation manually that the rod and the body thereon can be lifted at any stage of the descent of the latter, a catch in the form of a spring controlled shouldered bar which is connected to the said second lever, an adjacent fixed stop beneath which the'shouldered part of the said bar is engageable to prevent reverse movement of the rod and body when lifted as aforesaid, and a toggle device consisting of a slotted link connected to the bar and another member jointed to said toggle can be actuated at appropriate times to trip the bar and thereby effect-automatic release of the fabric tensioning body, for the purpose described.

8. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at leastone needle cylinder, a, body with a fabric engaging formation for applying auxiliary tension tofthe work in order to compensate for the presence of a pouch, a rod which supports.

said; fabric-tensioning body and is movable axially of the needle cylinder, a two-armed lever to which the supporting rod-is connected, 9. second two-armed lever, control means for automatically operating said second lever, a link connecting the said twolevers, the arrangement being such that the tensioning body can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, descend, when operative, to apply the desired auxiliary tension to the work and be automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, and the connections being so arranged for operation manually that the rod and the body thereon can be lifted at any stage of the descent of the latter, a catch in the form' of a shouldered bar which is loaded and connected to the said second lever between the pivot thereof and the point of connection between this lever and the aforesaid link, and an adjacent fixed stop with which the shouldered part of the bar is engageable to prevent reverse movement of the rod and body when lifted manually.

9. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at least one needle cylinder, a body with a fabric engaging formation for applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to compensate for the presence of a pouch, a rod which supports said fabric-tensioning body and is movable axially of the needle cylinder, a two-armed lever to which the supporting rod is connected, a second twoarmed lever, control means for automatically operating said second lever, a link connecting the said two levers, the arrangement being such that the tensioning body can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, descend, when operative, to apply the desired auxiliary tension to the work and be automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, and the connections being so arranged for operation manually that the rod and the body thereon can be'lifted at any stage of the descent of the latter, a catch in the form of a shouldered bar which is loaded and connected to the said second lever between the pivot thereof and the point of connection between this lever and the aforesaid link, an adjacent fixed stop with which the shouldered part of the bar is engageable to prevent reverse movement of the rod and body in knitted normal inoperative position at any stage of its operative movement, and means adapted to retain the said device in this position and to be operated to release the latter when again required for use.

12. In a'clrcular knitting machine adapted, by

rotary reciprocatory knitting, to produce pouches fabric, in combination, co-axially superimposed needle cylinders, a body with a fabric engaging formation for applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to compensate for the presence of a pouch, a rod which supports said fabric-tensioning bodyand is movable axially of the needle cylinders, an upper two-armed lever to which the supporting rod is connected, a lower two-armed lever, control means for automatically operating said lower lever, a link connecting the said two levers, the arrangement being such that the tensioning body can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, descend, when operative, to apply the desired auxiliary tension to the work and be automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, and the connections being so arranged for operation manually that the rod and the body thereon can be lifted at any stage of the descent of the latter, a catch in the form when lifted manually, and machine-controlled means for automatically tripping the bar and thereby releasing the fabric tensioning body for further operation.

10. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the fixed stop is provided on an adjacent part on which, the lever connected to the rod is pivoted.

rotary reciprocatory knitting, to produce pouches -in knitted fabric, in combination, co-axially superimposed needle cylinders, a device for applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to com: pensate for the presence of a pouch, a movable member for supporting said tensioning device, means for automatically operatin and controlling the said supporting member whereby the tensioning device can be automatically brought into engagement with the work, moved axially of the needle cylinders for the purpose of applying the desiredauxiliary tension and automatically returned to the normal inoperative position after completion of a pouch, said auxiliary fabric tensioning means, moreover, being arranged to enable the tensioning device to be restored to its 11. In a circular knitting machine adapted, by

of a shouldered bar which is loaded, extends'vertically between the two levers and is connected to the lower lever between the pivot thereof and the point of connection between this lever and the aforesaid link, an adjacent fixed stop which serves as a guide for the: bar and with which the shouldered part of said bar is engageable to prevent reverse movement of the rod and body when lifted manually, and machine-controlled means for automatically tripping the bar and thereby releasing the fabric tensioning body for further operation.

13. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, in combination, at least one needle cylinder, a body comprising a weight with a claw thereon toengage the work solely on the side thereof where a pouch is formed for the purpose of applying auxiliary tension to the work in order to compensate for the presence of Said pouch, a movable member for supporting said fabric tensioning body, the latter being mounted to rock on the said member, a cam in engagement with which the tenbe automatically released from engagement with the cam so that it will-fall to bring the claw into engagement with the work, then moved axially of the needle cylinder so that the body is gravity actuated to apply the desired auxiliary tension, and thereafter automatically returned to the normal inoperative position in engagement with the cam after completion of a pouch, said auxiliary fabric tensioning means, moreover, being arrangedto enable the tensioning body to be restored to its normal inoperative position at any stage of its operative movement, and means adapted to retain the said body in this position and to be operated to release the latter when again required for use.

- HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. 

